The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1887-09-15
Railroad ExtOrtion.

Railroad ENtortion.
The recent hearing before the in
ter-state railroad commission ut Rut-
land has brought out solid facts that
ought to open the eyes of all doubt
ing Thomases. Strange as it may
seem, there have been some, beside
the ring politicians, who, in spite of
all the evidence furnished, have sided
with the railroads and attempted to
defend them against charges of favor
itsm, extortion and unjust discrimi-
nations. To such the disclosures at
Rutland will be a surprise and q con-
vincing revelation, provided their
eyes are not absolutely blinded by
Gov. Smiths free passes and BLAIR
ney. 1t was shown there that the
Vermont farmers and business men
have been Systematically defrauded,
year after year, by these soulless cor
porations, whose right to exist can
only be defended on the theory that
they are for the benefit of the people,
whom they are used to Cypress. 1t
was shown that from 25 to 100 per
cent more has been constantly charg-
ed for carrying the same freight be-
tween points in Vermont and Boston
100 to 225 miles-than has been
charged for transporting the same
kinds of freight between Boston and
Detroit and other western points
$50 to 1000 miles Butter and other
farming produce has constantly been
carried from Michigan and other rich
farming sections in the West to Bos-
ton, for one-half to two-thirds the
price that has been eXtorted from
Vermont farmers. And all this has
been done, as was clearly shown at
the hearing, under the direct manage
ment and control of our own oily
tongued Gov. Smith, in whose mouth
common butter won't melt! He, it
appeared from all the testimony, was
the absolute controller and manager
of the whole business. Yet next
year he will 90 before a committee of
the Vermont legislature, made up at
his dictaton, as usual, of members
having his free passes in their pock-
cts, and pursuade them that the moon
is made of green cheese, that he, Gov.
Smith is a benevolent saint whose
business is going about doing good to
the dear people and his pocket COM
mittee, appointed by his pocket speak
er, will so report and vote Another
significant fact was disclosed by Gov.
Smiths own testimony-a fact to
which the SITTER has often called at
tention--that wheels within wheels
have been put in motion which have
absorbed all the legitimate earnings
of the railroads and left the poor de-
luded stockholders to whistle for their
money. One of these wheels, and
probably the biggest one, is the Ma
tional Car Company-Gov. Smith S
especial pet-which has furnished
cars for the railroad, receiving ga a
cent mile both aoays, from the rail-
road company for their use, and kept
constantly running even when cars
owned by the railroad itself were
standing idle ON side tracks. This
car company is made up Of the man
ayers and chief men of the several
railroads using them with Gov. Smith
at their head, and has turned out to
be an immensely profitable concern, as
well it might. Gov. Smith testified
that the capital stock at first was
500, 900, only one-half of which was
paid in however, tho 10 per cent div
idens were paid on its par value. The
capital stock is now between 2,000,-
COO and $4,000, 900 but the astute
Gov. couldn't tell the commission
when or how any of this money had
been paid in Is it possible all this
immense sum is only ''watered stock, "
and that he and his worthy associates
are getting big dividends on it out of
the patrons of the railroads.! No
wonder his friends boastingly proclaim
him to be the richest man in YER
mont, and no wonder also that the
railroads he has managed have grown
poor, and their securities been scaled
down and wiped out, just in proper
ton as he and his pals have grown
rich. Will the people open their eyes
and see and then act!
We beg to call the attention of our
readers, especially the farming class,
to the very Interesting letter we pub